There was a bit of uncertainty going into this weekend. A week off? Thanksgiving... And a very tight and stacked field. Plymouth weekend was a peak of my racing this season and well I didn't respond well today I guess.
Pre-ride felt good but just with the orange suit I was cooking in the sun on that first lap and it was still not even 9:30. Got a full lap in before the women's 3/4 start, grabbed the number chatted, cheered, jumped on as soon as I could, got two full laps in. Then pinned up.
Hit the line right behind GCDavid Cort and company, not last row but close. Started and held my place but not really around the track. By the time we hit the run up I was tail gunning, and after the other up down Todd Rowell jumped in front of me and I made sure I was last. Poor old Shattuck ate a barricade at the start and had to work from absolutely last by a long shot, but I think he kept moving up the whole race.
That was my plan. Hanging out at the end of the conga line Rowell started to move and I went with him... for a bit. Lap 2 we started hitting it harder and I was doing okay until - poof, sweating, overheating. It might have only been 61 today when we were racing but under the brilliant sun it felt worse. And with that intensity my stomach actually started acting up. it hurt to fold over a bit. I was worried at the start about my back but nope, my guts were in pain. Heat, guts and I just didn't seem to be able to actually pedal fast enough. Molasses.
Sure - Chabot and the rest will mock and ridicule me about complaining about 60 degree weather a few days from December but man, I really much prefer Sterling when that pond has Ice on it. I tried ditching the gloves, then unzipping then the glasses and kind of found a balance, but too late. took 3 laps to do that, the final 3 laps? well everyone was so far gone even CTodd caught me. Ringer was just up the road and there was nothing I could do to reel him in. Shawn McC had set his sea anchor but my engine room was having nothing.
It was funny though from the left hand turn along the road up to the left hand onto the track and around until off the track I was plenty fast, every lap. Distancing guys behind me and reeling in those up front. But I'd just lose it all the rest of the course. Couldn't really get the flow of the course.
And it was a bad day and every little distraction just sort of snowballed.
BUT
I finished on the lead lap.
I didn't take a dirt nap or impale myself on a stake (I hope Stacey's okay).
I feel like I raced my ass off right now, legs are destroyed.
My guts seem to have sorted themselves out.
And as much as I hated the heat, it was a pretty damn nice day to be on the bike racing with friends.
Tomorrow is a new day and it will be what it is going to be and it is all building up to NBX.
It is good.
Oh and I got home with 10 minutes to unload the car, and turn around and head out to my youngest's indoor soccer. And her team won and she played really well. Got home and cranked out some dinner. Still no shower though. Food first.
heddwch
G
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